Scheduling Surgery

On average, there is a three to six month wait before a surgery or admission. Our surgery scheduler will call you with an appointment as soon as a date has been set.  If your child is scheduled for surgery, you may find our "What to ask your child's team" list helpful.

Six Weeks Prior to Surgery

Please call your care coordinator if your child becomes ill at any time up to six weeks before the surgery. This includes cold, flu, cough, fever, congestion, sore throat, infection, rash or skin eruptions or dental problems.

Four Weeks Prior to Surgery

You are responsible for making all travel and housing arrangements at least 30 days before your admission. Only one parent may stay overnight with the child.  If more than one family member comes to the hospital, you will need to find a place for them to stay. If you have questions, please call the housing coordinator at (801) 536–3665 or (800) 313-3745.

If your child will need a wheelchair after surgery, make arrangements to have it ready before you come to the hospital. You may need to call your care coordinator for a prescription and contact your insurance for a preauthorization.

Two Weeks Prior to Surgery

Stop all herbal medicines and aspirin two weeks before surgery. If your child is taking aspirin for something other than pain, please notify your care coordinator.  Do not give your child ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) or naproxen (Aleve) for 24 hours before the surgery. If these medicines are taken it could mean the surgery date will need to be changed or canceled.

One Week Prior To Surgery

One week before surgery, the hospital will call you to see if your child is healthy. For your child’s safety, let us know if your child has been sick, or has been exposed to an infectious disease like mumps, measles or chicken pox in the last six weeks.

Let your care coordinator know if your child needs special foods or medical equipment.

The Day Before Surgery

If you are scheduled to be admitted the same day as your surgery you must call inpatient nursing at (801) 536–3510 after 5:00 p.m. the day before the procedure to find out the exact time to arrive at the hospital.  It is critical you show up on time. Late arrivals may cause the procedure to be postponed or canceled.

Eating and drinking restrictions

• Do not give any solid food or milk products after midnight the night before the surgery.
• Breast fed children may have breast milk until four hours before the procedure.
• Formula fed children may have formula until six hours before the procedure.
• Children under the age of six should be offered clear liquids three hours before the procedure and then should have nothing.   Clear liquids include water, apple juice or grape juice.
• It is very important that absolutely nothing be given by mouth for at least three hours before the procedure.

The Day of Admission

Before surgery, the child’s legal guardian will need to sign consent forms. If the patient is 18 or older and capable, he/she will sign their own consent forms. There will be separate consents for hospital treatment, the procedure, anesthesia and blood transfusions.

Same-day procedures usually last only a few hours. Your child will be ready to go home once they are awake, taking fluids and have been to the bathroom. If your child is not feeling well enough to leave the hospital, they might be sent home the next day.

Please review the "What to Bring" page for more information.